And dance we did!

Let's call that first dance Chapter 1.  There have been many dances since, but that one started it all.

The First Date:  Stargazing

We had no idea where things were heading at first, and there were definitely some missed connections.  It wasn't until Christmas time that we even saw each other off the dance floor!  Some good adventures followed, and 7 months after that first dance Mark asked Moriah out for our first date: a group camping trip to Bake Oven Knob and then Cherry Springs Park in central PA (and yes, the event featured a tri-fold brochure).  The whole theme was "stargazing" and Mark had planned it to coincide with the New Moon in March, which unfortunately meant it was *freezing* cold.  Those of you who know Moriah will understand that this could have been an early deal-breaker.  Sensing danger, Mark called in his secret weapon: The Lichtenwalner Clan, who helped him split and transport a truly ludicrous amount of firewood up the mountain.  And so it was that Moriah got to kick off our relationship by lighting a literal bonfire, and no one froze to death.  Success!

(video credit:  Lee Lichtenwalner)

A few photos from those earliest days...

The Fountain

Back then our lives seemed to revolve around the Art Museum District, and our adventures often ended up there. Some of our earliest conversations about Life, The Universe, and Everything took place around (or in) the fountain at the top of the front steps.  Years later, the octagonal shape of that fountain became the inspiration for Mark's wedding ring.  

(or how to kick the tires on a new relationship)

Even before our first date, Moriah had been accepted to medical school in Denver.  Knowing our time together before she moved away was short, we decided to make the most of it.  So...we rented a motorcycle and rode it across half of Japan.  Then we flew back to the US for a family reunion and a wedding.  Then we spent 3 weeks hiking and off-roading through Tibet.  After all that we still wanted to talk to each other, which we took to be a good sign, so we decided to give the whole long-distance relationship thing a go.  Many more adventures followed...

Bringing our clans together

...has been one of the best parts of this whole thing.  We've been indoor-skydiving with you guys; watched the Clemson Tigers lose AND THEN WIN a national championship; and even managed to get a boat stuck in the middle of a dry field in South Carolina.  There's been hiking, biking, floating, boating, skiing, sledding, running, gaming, singing, dancing, snowboarding/shoeing/mobiling, and lots of other whimsical adventures.  You are an active and eclectic bunch and we love you all.  

 Speaking of the big "L" word, like a lot of folks we were uncomfortable using it in the early days of our relationship.  So we coined another way to describe what we were feeling:  "Wild Hope."  It's kind of a long story, but there's a constellation that goes along with it, and that constellation is embedded in the design of both our wedding rings.  We think it's a pretty good symbol to start a new life together.

(How Mark proposed to Moriah)

This one is a long story, so maybe we'll just let the pictures do most of the talking.  It started with our new friends Wilmar, Ishmael, and Reynaldo, in a small town called Rurrenabaque at the edge of the Bolivian Amazon.  We drove for two days to get deep into Madidi National Park, then hiked into the jungle for a week, traveling on foot and on a raft we built from fallen balsa trees.  On the last day, we finally tracked down the elusive Jaguar, and Mark surprised Moriah with a question...

"Excuse me honey, I need to step into the jungle for a minute.  Be right back..."

We often call Moriah's ring, "The Talisman."  Here is what it looked like on the first full day of our engagement.  If you look carefully at its design you can see the inspiration of the Wild Hope Constellation, the first drawing of which is shown in the next picture.  There are now three stones in the ring.  The first is a piece of lava from the summit of Mt. Fuji, the second is from the glacier we hiked in Tibet, and the third was selected from the same riverbank in the Amazon where we got engaged.  We plan to leave the last space unfilled, symbolizing the adventures to come.  

Fire, Water, Earth, Air:  Lava rock from the top of Fuji, Glacier in Tibet, Riverbank in the Amazon, and the Space Unfilled.

Mark's ring will be revealed at the wedding.  Thanks to our friend John Cattermole for working closely with us to create both rings!  

So why is the wedding called Chapter 10?

Moriah's medical rotations and Mark's business trips have meant spending a lot of time apart.  We've learned to thrive despite the distance, and it's led to a lot of traditions (some of which may or may not be unique to the Denver airport).  One of our favorites was inspired by the song "Itches and Tugs" by our friend Carsie Blanton.  When it comes time for reunion we don't count down, we count up.  So for the last 5 years or so, the first word we've always said to each other after a long separation is, "TEN!"  With that theme in mind, we reflected  on how our relationship has been counting up to gettin' hitched.  Here's how we broke it down:

The Story So Far...

Chapter 1 - Dino House, DJX, and The First Dance
In which our heroes meet for the first time

Chapter 2 - Stargazing and The First Date
In which our heroes plan a very cold camping trip, and the Lichtenwalner clan saves the day!

Chapter 3 - Early Adventures!
In which our heroes venture to Japan, Tibet, weddings, & reunions together, and decide to give long-distance a go...

Chapter 4 - Separation
In which Moriah starts medical school in Denver, and our heroes have adventures in the Rockies, Sierras, and Channel Islands

Chapter 5 - Jaguar Day!
In which our heroes have a grand adventure in South America, get engaged, and go to Guatemala for their 1st medical relief trip!

Chapter 6 - Reunion!
In which Mark stages a surprise reunion with help from Team Chicago, and Moriah triumphantly returns to Philadelphia!  *trumpets*

Chapter 7 - Adventures in Philly and Beyond!
In which our heroes make their first home; there are adventures in Hawaii, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka;  and Mark receives his sword

Chapter 8 - A Stormy Night in Georgia
In which there is a long flight from Nepal, we pull together as a family, undertake the Great Boat Road Trip, and discover Hances

Chapter 9 - New Beginnings
In which Mark Starts Graduate School and a New Position, Moriah Graduates, and our heroes anticipate Match Day!

Chapter 10 - A Homespun Picnic Jubilee by the Bay...
In which our heroes marry, and who knows what else happens?  Come celebrate and let's find out!

We hope to see you all by the bay on June 3rd!

Take me back to the "In a Nutshell" page.